Handle-bar clamp for motor-cycles.



C. J. GUSTAFSON & R. W. ELLINGHAM.

HANDLE BAR CLAMP FOR MOTOR CYCLES.

APPLICATION FILED oer-27. 1913.

1.215.,M5. Patented Feb. 6,1917.

- w W l/ CARL J. GUSTAFSON AND ROBERT W. ELLINGHADI, QF SPRINGFIELD,BEASSACHU- SETTS, ASSIGNORS TO HENDEE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OFSPRINGFIELD, TIIASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATIQN OF MASSACHUSETTS.

HANDLE-BAR CLAMP FOR MOTOR-CYCLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 191?.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CARL J. GUs'rArsoN andROBERT W. ELLINGi-IAM, a subject of the King of Sweden and a citizen ofthe United States, respectively, residing at Springfield, in the countyof Hampden, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Han dle-Bar Clamps for Motor-Cycles, of which thefollowing is a description, reference be.

ing had to the accompanying drawing and to the figures of referencemarked thereon.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in handle barclamps for motor-cycles, and more particularly to clamps of thecharacter wherein the handle bar is frictionally gripped by a clampingmember which is connected to the steering stem 1n the head of themotorcycle.

An object of the invention is to provide a clamping means for the handlebar wherein pressure may be independently exerted upon the handle bar atopposite sides thereof so that the handle bar may be firmly gripped andprevented from turning in said clamping means. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a clamping means of theabove char acter wherein the clamping member at one side of the handlebar is so constructed as to surround the expanding bolt which socuresthe supporting sleeve for the handle bar to the steering stem.

A further object of the invention is to provide clamping means of theabove character with auxiliary devices for securing the sleevesupporting the handle bar to the steering stem.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part behereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of theinven tion:

Figure 1 is a detail view showing the clamping means for the handle barin side elevation and the handle bar in section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional. View through the steering head, theclamping means and the handle bar.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the movable clamping member.

Fig. 4: is a detail in perspective showing a portion of the handle bar.

The invention consists, generally, in providing a clamping means for thehandle bar which isformed in two separable parts, one of which is formedintegral with a sleeve adapted to be clamped in the steering stem. Theother part of the clamping means is entirely separate from the firstfixed part and means is provided for exerting at opposite rides of thehandle bar a clamping pressure which enables the handle bar to be firmlygripped between the two parts or members of the clamping means. Theinvention further consists in providing in addition to the expandedsleeve for looking or fastening the clamping means to the steering stem,an auxiliary securing means which aids in preventing said supportingsleeve for the clamping means from turning in the steering stem.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the frame 1 of the motorcycleis of the usual construction and the front fork is mounted on thesteering stem 2 which in turn is mounted in the head of the frame so asto rotate therein. A bearing 3 is mounted at the upper end of the headand a collar 4: clamped to the steeringstem 2 rests on and inclosesballs 5, which in turn are mounted on said bearing 3. A strengtheningsupport 6 attached to the fork is also clamped to this steering stem bya threaded nut which clamps an arm 8 attached to the sup port againstthe collar l. These parts are of the usual construction and furtherdescription will not be necessary.

The handle bar 9 is firmly clamped in the clamping moans tl'icre'liorwhich consists of a. lower clamping part or member 11 and an nuapcrclamping part or member 12. As herein shown a sleeve 13 is formedintegral with the lower clamping member 11 and this sleeve extends intothe steering stem 2 which is rigidly connected to the front fork. Thelower end of the sleeve 13 is slotted, as at 1%, and is also tapered soas to receive an expanding nut 15 threaded on to the expanding bolt 16.When the expanding bolt 16 is turned by the head 17 formed thereon, theexpanding nut 15 will be drawn into the sleeve expanding the lower endthereof against the steering stem and :lrictionally lock the sametogether.

' A split collar 18 also surrounds the sleeve 13 and is firmly clampedthereto by a bolt 19. This collar is formed with downwardly projectinglugs 20 on opposite sides thereof which are adapted to engage recesses21 formed in the upper end of the steering stem 2. These inter-engagingrecesses and lugs form an auxiliary locking means for holding thesleeve, which carries the handle bar, from turning in the steering stem.It will be noted that there are two distinct and independent lockingdevices for holding this sleeve which supports the handle bar fromturning in the steering stem, the one being the expanding nut whichforces the lower end of the sleeve against the inner wall of thesteering stem, the other being the interengaging lugs and recesses onthe steering stem and the collar which is firmly gripped to the sleevecarrying the handle bar.

As above noted the clamping member 11 is formed integral with the sleeveextending into and locking to the steering stem. A sleeve 22 is threadedinto the opening formed through the clamping member 11, as at 23, andsaid sleeve projects above said clamping member and is adapted toreceive a collar 2% formed integral with the clamping member 12. Thiscollar slides freely on the sleeve 22. The extreme outer end of thesleeve is threaded, as at 25, and a nut 26 engages said threaded end andserves to clamp or force the collar 2 ltoward the lower clamping member.Said sleeve 22 is provided with a laterally projecting flange 27 whichis formed with the usual socket to receive a spanner wrench. On theupper end the expanding bolt 16 projects through the sleeve 22 and thehead 17 of said bolt rests against a washer 28 which in turn restsagainst the outer end of the sleeve 22. By this arrangement, theclamping member 12 may have a clamping pressure exerted thereonindependently of the expanding bolt which cooperates with the expandingnut at the lower end thereof to frictionally hold the sleeve supportingthe clamping means in the steering stem. In other words, the clampingdevice for the clamping member 12 is concentric to the expanding boltbut is independent thereof.

The lower clamping member 11 is provided with an outwardly projectingthreaded ear 29 which is located substantially on the opposite side ofthe clamping member 11 from the sleeve 18. The upper clamping member 12is provided with a projecting ear 30 which is also substantially on theopposite side of said clamping member from the collar 2 L. A bolt 31extends through the perforated ear 30 and is threaded into theperforated ear 29. This bolt serves as a means for forcing the ear 30toward the car 29. As viewed in Fig. 2, it will be apparent that theprojecting cars 29 and 30 are substantially horizontal, while the collar21 is located in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis ofthe steering head.

The handle bar 9 is provided with a collar 32 which is preferablysweated thereon and the outer face of this collar is serrated, as at 33.The innerfaces of the two clamping members 11 and 12 are also serratedor grooved transversely thereof, as at 34:. The collar 33 is adapted tobe engaged by the clamping nembers ll and'12. By turning the bolt 31, aclamping pressure may be exerted at one side of the handle bar and byturning the nut 26, a clamping pressure may be exerted at the other sideof the handle bar. It will, therefore, be seen that the clampingpressure of the member 12 toward the member 11 will be equallydistributed not only at each side of the handle bar but throughouttheentire extent where the said handle bar is gripped for the reason thatthe circular recesses formed in the clamping members may be shortened ateach side of the handle bar. Furthermore, the above construction ofclamping means allows one side of the clamping member to be turned downto a greater extent than the other and thereby secure a tightening orgripping radial contact with the handle bar.

\Vhile we have shown lugs formed on the collar 18, and recesses formedat the upper end of the steering stein, it will be obvious that the lugsmay be formed on the stem and the recesses formed in the collar.

It will be obvious that minor changes/in the details of construction andthearrangement of the parts may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

7 Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A handle bar clamp for motorcycles including a sleeve extending intothe steering stem, devices for securing said sleeve to said stem, aclamping member formed integral with said sleeve and having asemi-circular recess for the handle bar, said clamping member having ahorizontally projecting portion, a second clamping member having asemi-circular recessfor the handle bar and having a horizontallyprojecting portion spaced from the horizontally projecting portion onthe first clamping member, means for forcing said horizontallyprojecting portions toward each other, said second clamping memberhaving a projecting portion on the opposite side of the handle bar fromthe first named projecting portion thereon which is disposed in a planesubstantially at right angles to the steering stem, and clamping meansconcentric with the axis of the steering stem for engaging the lastnamed pro jecting portion and forcing the second clamping member againstthe handle bar.

2. A handle bar clamp for motorcycles ineluding a sleeve extending intothe steering stem, devices for securing said sleeve to said stem, aclamping member formed integral with said sleeve and having asemi-circular recess for the handle bar, a horizontally projecting earcarried by said clamping member, a second clamping member having asemi-circular recess for the handle bar, and a horizontally projectingear spaced from the ear on the lower clamping member, a threaded boltfor forcing said ears toward each other a collar carried by said secondclamping member on the opposite side of the handle bar from said ears,said collar being disposed in a plane substantially at right angles tothe axis of the steering stem, a second sleeve threaded into the lowerclamping member and adapted to extend through the collar on the upperclamping member, and a nut for engaging said last named sleeve andpressing against said collar for forcing the same toward the lowerclamping member.

3. A handle bar clamp for motorcycles includinga sleeve extending intothe steering stem, means for securing said sleeve to said stem, a collarclamped on said sleeve and having projecting lugs adapted to engagerecesses formed in the upper end of the steering stem, said sleevehaving a clamping member formed integral therewith, which clampingmember is provided with a recess for the handle bar, a second clampingmember separate from the first clamping memher and having a recess forthe handle bar, and devices on opposite sides of the handle bar forsecuring the clamping members together.

In testimony whereof we aiiiX our signatures in the presence of twowitnesses.

CARL J. GUSTAFSON.

ROBERT \V. ELLINGHAM.

Witnesses C. W. JAENEAN, HARRY A. BROWN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

